Pennsylvania hunters compiled the second lowest first-day
bear harvest of the 21st century on Saturday, the opener of the 2013
firearms season on bear, according to preliminary totals released by the
Pennsylvania Game Commission.

They brought 1,320 first-day bear to the commission's bear check
stations across the state. That compares to 1,530 on the first day last year 2012,
when hunters harvested 3,632 bears in all seasons, the third-largest harvest in
state history. The largest harvest, 4,350 bears, occurred in 2011, when
preliminary first-day totals numbered 1,936.

Other first-day harvest totals of the 21st
century were 1,751 in 2010; 1,897 in 2009; 1,725 in 2008; 1,005 in 2007; 1,461
in 2006; 2,026 in 2005; 1,573 in 2004; 1,454 in 2003;1,348 2002; 1,812 in 2001;
and 1,691 in 2000.

The top 10 bears processed at check stations by Monday were
either estimated or confirmed to have live weights of 555 pounds or more.

The largest was a male estimated at 632 pounds that was
taken by Michael Truax, of Everett, in East Providence Township, Bedford County.

Other large bears included a 627-pound male taken by Wayne
A. Gehers, of Mohnton, in Tioga County's Bloss Township; a 616-pounder taken by
Bradley S. Rohrer, of Lancaster, in Tioga County's Union Township; a
597-pounder taken by Jenna L. Schoenagel, of Greentown, in Pike County's Greene
Township; a 595-pounder taken by Maurice C. Younker, of Mercersburg, in Fulton County's Thompson Township; a
586-pounder taken by Jalynn N. Macnelley, of Laceyville, in Bradford County's
Wilmot Township; a 560-pounder taken by Ernest W. Lucrezi, of Beach Lake, in
Wayne County's Berlin Township; a 557-pounder taken by Ronald P. Fitzgerald, of
Forksville, in Sullivan County's Elkland Township; a 556-pounder taken by Randy
Klem, of Mountaintop, in Luzerne County's Rice Township; and a 555-pounder
taken by Michael L. Esposti, of Mahaffey, taken in Clearfield County's Chest
Township.

Bears have been harvested in 48 counties during the
statewide season so far.